KAIROS, others, call on Canadians to support First Nations by foregoing food on January 11.

from KAIROS

On Friday, January 4, the Prime Minister announced that he would meet with First Nations leaders on January 11, the one month anniversary of Chief Theresa Spence’s fast to bring attention to the treaty relationship between First Nations and Canada. KAIROS welcomes this meeting as a response to the Chief’s call, and as she prepares for the meeting, we call on our network to join in a Solidarity Fast with Chief Spence on Friday, January 11.

Is this not the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?Isaiah 58:6

On December 11, 2012, Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat First Nation on James Bay in Northern Ontario began a fast to call attention to the Federal Government’s failure to live up to its Treaty relationship with Canada’s First Peoples, and asking for a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Governor General (as the representative of the Crown). Thousands of Canadians have supported the Chief in her call and action.On January 4, Prime Minister Harper indicated that he will meet with First Nations leaders on January 11 – the one month anniversary of the Chief’s fast. Chief Spence will attend the meeting, but has also said she will continue to fast, taking only water, fish broth, and medicinal tea until the meeting takes place.

If you are not medically able to do this, but are able to forgo one meal, then please do so and make this your Solidarity Fast with Chief Spence.

KAIROS has delivered a solidarity message to Chief Spence and we have encouraged our network to do so as well.

The Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers) joined KAIROS and other Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups in a joint statement expressing solidarity with the Chief.

The United Church of Canada urged the Prime Minister to meet with Chief Spence, stating that “the challenge to all of us is to walk the road of justice and reconciliation.

The Anglican Church of Canada noted in a letter to the Prime Minister that “in meeting with Chief Spence, in meeting with First Nations leaders towards a reconciled and just relationship, you will make real your apology of 2008.”

Other churches, faith communities and individuals have also expressed their solidarity with the Chief through prayer, letter-writing, and participation in round dances and demonstrations, including those organized by the Idle No More movement. Some have chosen to fast in solidarity with the Chief.

KAIROS is now asking you to continue the journey towards right relationship by fasting in solidarity with Chief Spence on Friday, January 11, when the meeting with First Nations leaders is scheduled to take place.

Who should fast?

We would like everyone in the KAIROS community to be able to participate in a 24 hour Solidarity Fast with Chief Spence but we recognize that, for reasons of health, this is not an option for all. If you have any concerns about participating in this action, please consult your physician.

How should I fast?

If you are medically able, we ask you to forgo solid food for 24 hours in the same way that Chief Spence has for the past weeks. Consume clear liquids only – water, herbal teas, and broths.

If you are not medically able to do this, but are able to forgo one meal, then please do so and make this your Solidarity Fast with Chief Spence.

If you are not medically able to miss a meal, please consider what you can do within your dietary regime as a symbolic action of solidarity.

Can i also express my solidarity in prayer?

Yes! We encourage you to begin your fast with this reading from Isaiah 58: 6-12 (or another sacred text from your tradition). You may choose to read aloud or in silence, as individuals, a family, or a community.

What else should I do?

Isaiah 58 tells us that the true fast is to take action for justice. Please contact the Prime Minister, the Governor General, and your Member of Parliament before January 11, with the following points:

Express your support for this meeting as a response to the call of Chief Spence.

Explain to them that you will be fasting in solidarity with the Chief while the meeting is going on,

State your belief in nation-to-nation relationships and respect for Treaties.

Indicate your hope that this meeting will be a critical first step in just and equitable relationship with Indigenous peoples in this country.

You may also wish to remind them of the Government’s promise, made in the 2008 Apology to Survivors of Indian Resihttp://sgnews.ca/wp-admin/post.php?post=12561&action=edit&message=6#post_namedential Schools, to “[forge] a new relationship between aboriginal peoples and other Canadians, a relationship based on the knowledge of our shared history, a respect for each other and a desire to move forward together …” adding that this is a commitment that you also hold sacred.

KAIROS thanks you for honouring Chief Spence’s vision, and for your commitment to building a new relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, a relationship rooted in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and our collective commitment to truth, reconciliation and equity.

About KAIROS

KAIROS unites Canadian churches and religious organizations in a faithful ecumenical response to the call to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Informed by biblical teaching, KAIROS deliberates on issues of common concern, striving to be a prophetic voice in the public sphere. Inspired by a vision of God’s compassionate justice, KAIROS advocates for social change, amplifying and strengthening the public witness of its members. Responding to Christ by engaging in social transformation, KAIROS empowers the people of God and is empowered by them to live out our faith in action for justice and peace, joining with those of goodwill in Canada and around the world.